← Back to Revelation

Revelation 6

17 verses

TL;DR

Revelation 6 opens the series of apocalyptic judgments, revealing four horsemen symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death, followed by the martyrdom of believers, a great cosmic upheaval, and the fear of the earthly rulers.

Summary

The chapter begins with the Lamb opening the first seal, and a series of four horsemen appear: a white horse bearing a bow and crown, a red horse wielding a great sword; a black horse carrying balances; and a pale horse whose rider is Death with Hell. The seals are accompanied by proclamations from the beasts and the voice of the fourth beast. When the fifth seal opens, the martyrs under the altar cry for judgment, are clothed in white robes, and are told to rest until the fulfillment of their testimony. The sixth seal brings a violent earthquake, darkness over the sun and moon, falling stars, and the heavens resembling a rolled scroll; mountains and islands shift. Earthly powers – kings, nobles, the rich, and all men – hide in mountains and rocks, pleading for protection from the wrath of the Lamb, declaring that the day of His wrath has come and no one can stand.

Outline
  1. The four horsemen and their symbolic judgments
  2. The martyrdom of believers and their temporary rest
  3. The cosmic upheaval and the earthly response to divine wrath
Themes
Judgment and divine sovereigntyThe cost of faith and martyrdomCosmic upheaval as a sign of divine judgment
Keywords
sealsbeastshorseconquestwarfaminedeathmartyrdomearthquakewrathLamb
People
LambBeastsDeathHellLordKings of the earth
Places
earthmountainsislandsaltar
Things
white horsered horseblack horsepale horseswordbalanceswheatbarleyoilwinegreat earthquakesunmoonstarsscrollmountainsislands
Key Verses
  • Revelation 6:8: Introduces Death and Hell as instruments of divine judgment, symbolizing universal mortality
  • Revelation 6:9: Reveals the martyrs, highlighting the cost of faith and the promise of justice
  • Revelation 6:12: Describes the cosmic calamity that precedes the final judgment, emphasizing the magnitude of divine wrath
Questions
  • What do the four horsemen represent in the context of biblical prophecy?
  • How does the martyrdom in verse 9 reflect the early Christian experience?
  • What is the significance of the cosmic events described in verse 12 for the narrative of Revelation?
  • How does the fear expressed by earthly rulers in verse 17 connect to the theme of divine judgment?
Sentiment

mixed
Contains both foreboding judgment and the assurance of divine justice